358 



ALCA. AUK. 



The genus Alca of Linnccus included the Razorbill, the 

 Puffin, the Kotcho, and the Great Auk, each of which has 

 been made the type of a genus. The Great Auk and the 

 Razorbill, however, are by many ornithologists of the present 

 day considered as of one and the same genus. The gi-eater 

 length of the bill, its more numerous furrows, and the ex- 

 tremely small size of the wrings, seem to distinguish the gi-eat 

 Auk generically, and, as it is the most remarkable bird of the 

 family, it has been selected as the type, and allowed to retain 

 the Linna;an name. No other species of this genus is known. 



Bill as long as the head, vertically expanded, exceedingly 

 compressed ; upper mandible with its outline at first straight, 

 then declinate and decurvate to the end, the ridge very nar- 

 row, the sides nearly flat, with numerous oblique curved 

 ridges and grooves, the edges sharp toward the end, the tip 

 decurvate and obtuse ; lower mandible with the angle long, 

 the dorsal line at first convex, then ascending and concave to 

 the end, the sides flat, grooved, the edges sharp, the tip 

 deflected. 



Nostrils linear, marginal. Eyes rather small. Apertures 

 of ears very small. Feet short, very strong ; tarsus com- 

 pressed, anteriorly scutellatc ; hind toe wanting ; outer toe 

 slightly shorter than the middle; interdigital membranes 

 entire ; claws rather small, arched, obtuse. 



Plumage dense, blended, very soft. Wings extremely 

 small, but perfectly formed ; first quill longest. Tail short, 

 pointed. 



